The Macon-Bibb County Parks and Recreation Department and the Sizemore Group will hold four public forums about the new Senior Citizens Center, construction of which is funded by the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. If unable to attend a meeting, people can submit suggestions by sending an email by Friday, September 11, to brucem@sizemoregroup.com.

At the first two forums on September 9, people will be able to let the designers know what programs and amenities they think should be offered at the new Center, as well as discuss three potential locations near Central City Park. Based on this feedback, designers from the Sizemore Group can develop preliminary drawings to show at the second two forums on September 23.

“Our recreation centers and programs should meet the needs and desires of the people using them currently, as well as bring in new people, and we have a great opportunity by building a new Center to expand programming and attract more people,” says Recreation Department Interim Director Reggie Moore. “As an Age-Friendly Community, we are committed to offering programs and activities that improve the community’s health and quality of life.”

“We’re working to make sure we continue to listen to our senior citizens and get their input about the things they’d like to see included in the Center,” says SPLOST Advisory Committee Chairman Jeffery Monroe. “We hope more input will lead to more interest in the center. More interest will translate into more usage and more usage into more seniors who are active, engaged in their community and keeping themselves healthy.”

Forums have already been held, and plans approved, for the SPLOST-funded improvements, upgrades, and construction projects at Central City Park, Frank Johnson Community Center, Freedom Park, Memorial Gymnasium, Rosa Jackson Community Center, and SubSouth Recreation Center.

“The people of Macon-Bibb voted to approve the SPLOST and begin addressing decades of neglect in many areas of our community, including recreation center, infrastructure, and public safety,” says SPLOST Project Manager Clay Murphey. “Through forums like these, we want to keep people engaged throughout the process and ensure we are spending the funds as they expect.”

To help keep the public updated on the progress of SPLOST-funded projects, Macon-Bibb County launched in December 2014 an interactive online map to show how funds are being spent on each of projects. The projects can be viewed are divided into five focus areas (Economic Development, Public Safety, Recreation & Cultural Arts, Infrastructure, and Debt Retirement), and people can see each project’s budget, what was spent in prior years, what is budgeted for the current year, and how much remains to be spent.